The Washington critic., 1887-01-17
WASHINGTON, JANUARY II, 1887.
OUR rEACE ESTABLISHMENT.


The Federal Constitution declares
"a well regulated militia" to be "ncces-
sary to the security of free State,
ard among the powers of Congress ia
enumerated that of organizing, arm
ing and discipining the militia" and
of governing such part Of them as may
be employed in the service of the
United States; reseryIng to the States
espoctively the appointment of the
office and the authority Of reining
the militia according To the discipline
prescribed by Congress-
We do NOT remember that the wis.
dom of this provision or the Coustitu-
tion was ever called In question until
recent legislation was proposed for the
better organization Of the militia.
Events had occurred in various por-
lions Of the country to fully demon
strate the truth Of the constitutional
declaration as to the necessity of milf
Tia for the public security, and not till
then had we heard the exercise Of mill
tary power In this form condemned rs
an act Of dcspotism.
So violent however, has become the
spirit of denuuciation in this direction
that within q very few days past we
have heard the pending bill in Congress
appropriatlng 100000 to the militia of
The several States, protested against in
the most unmeasured terms as of the
very essence of imperialism and dan
gerous TO the liberties of the people.
But what have the orators of the
Cooper Union mass meeting to fear
what has any good citizen to fear from
measure that is simply intended to
give increased effectiveness TO plain
provision of the Constitution Z? Is 1t
any less true now than 1t was at the be.
ginning OF the Government, that well
regulated militia is necessary to the
security Of a free State? Is there an
instance on record where the militia
has been employed 10 antagonize the
enforcement of the law, 10 destroy
vested rights, to overturn public order
What is the militia but the peace estab.
lishment of the people themselves, in.
stituted solely for their own protection
in their own right?
The Constitution giving its direct
sanction TO the militia, and therein ex-
pressing the views of the founders of
the Government, who had just fought
their way out of a condition of colonial
vassal ive into the free air of political
independence, it becomes the duty Of
Congress to see that the militia is
properly provided for and "well regu.
lated" This it cannot be without
arms, equipments aud discipline; and
whatever the General Government sees
fit 10 do towards placing It upon such a
basis as to make its services more
valuable in times of public exigency is
TO that extent clear gain to the States,
albeit no more than they have right
TO demand.
1t is safe aud beneilcent legislation.
Our abla-bodied citizens of military age
do not want this $iO0 600 for the pur.
pose of setting up despotism over
themselves, or for organizing civil war
between the States or for creating a
standing army to menace the peace OF
society. They simply ask that as
guardians Of their own rights and In
,erests-t their own lives and property
they have that aid from Congress;
which the Constitution clearly intended
they should have towards making the
militia an organization in fact as vel
as in name. Every law. abiding citizen
will be benefited by 1t. Only those who
would upset the existing order oI
things by violent and revolutionary
methods can take exceptions to 1T
checks and safeguards.